Improvement in cultivators



W. D. MILLER.

Cultivators. I

N0 '148 839 l Patented March 24, 1874.

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Unrrnn STATES y.A 'IEIICI' DTFFICE.

WILLIAM D. MILLER, oF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN CULTIVATQRS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 14S,39, dated March :24, 1874; application filed October 20, 1873.

To all ywhom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM D. MILLER, of Springiielihin theeounty of Glarkeand State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Gultivators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the saine. Fig. 3 is an elevation of one of my iunerplows. Fig. I is a perspective view of my clevis detached. Figs. 5, (5, and 7 represent in diagram the Inethod of determining the contiguration of Iny plows, Fig. 7 being a cross-section on line .r x.

This invention relates to that class of cultivators known as walking straddIe-row cultivators; and it consists, h'rst, in the method of coupling the plow-beams to the wheel-frame, and in the method of attaching the draft; second, in the method of constructing the wheelframe.

That others may fully understand my improvement I will particularly describe it.

The wheel-frame is composed of two metallic bars, A and B. The bar A I prefer to make of round iron. Its two ends are bent in line to form axles for the wheels C G. Its central part is bent upward to a height suiiicient to clear the tops of the plants to be cultivated, and it is horizontal for a space of about twelve inches at its highest part, midway between said wheels. The bar B may be made of flat iron, and in strength inferior to the bar A, because it acts mainly as a brace to said bar A. Its central part is horizontal, and in height from the ground about the same as the highest part of bar A. These two bars are riveted together at their points of intersection, as shown in the drawings, and they are connected at top by the tongue or pole D, which is pivoted to the bar B, and clamped fast to bar A, so as to be adjustable thereon; and for this purpose I think a hook headed bolt, E, with a thumb or lever clampingnut, is the most convenient. BraeesF connect the ends of bars A B, so that a truss or X-frame is constituted, possessing great strength with a comparatively small quantity of material. The bar B, at its ends, is bifurcated, as shown at G, for the purpose I j, plows (K L) are secured.

of admitting the shank of the clevis H, to which the frontend of the drag-bar or plowbeam I is hinged. The clevis H is adjustable up or down in the slot of the bifurcated end G, so that the draft ofthe plows may be regulated; and it is also constructed Vso that the )now-beam is adjustable therein laterally. The vertical position of the clevis in the slot of G may be secured by a pin or bolt. The plow- .beam I is double, and to each separate part,

opposite sides of the machine, are connected together by arch-pieces M M, which are united at their tops, and adjustable there by means of a pin or bolt, m, and a series of holes through either of which said pin may be inserted, and to distend the arch and keep the plows at a proper distance a spreader, N, with slotted ends, is employed. The said arch-pieces pass through the slots in the ends of the spreader N, and are adjustably secured therein by means of pins n n.

By these devices the plows may be readily set and maintained at any desired relative distance from each other, and also so that the plows on one or the other side will run nearer to the plants, it' so desired.

The single-tree is attached directly to the clevis H, so that the draft-strain comes immediately upon the plows, and not at all upon the wheel-frame, and therefore I am enabled to make said frame comparatively light, and as the clevis H is free to move forward and backward in the slots G, through a limited space, they act as eveners to prevent undue strains in case one horse shall move a little faster than the other.

The tongue-pole D serves only to steer or direct the general course of the machine, and

may be adjusted either directly in the line of advance, or a little obliquely thereto, as maybe desirable, to suit a lead-horse which has been trained to walk very near to the row of plants. A guide-lever, I), is jointed to the rear end of the tongue D, and also to the spreader N, pref erably passing through a slot therein, and attached by means of a pivotpin, as shown in the drawing. Said lever is bent sidewise, so

that the attendant who walks between the rows of plants may have said lever convenient to his hand, and may thereby guide the shovels The beams I, at`

to theright or left, as may be necessary, on account of slight irregularities in the roiv 0f plats, or in the conduct of the team. The shovels being adjusted at the proper distance apart, it will only be necessary for the attendant to Watch that shovel which is nearest the plants, on one side, as the movement of the opposite shovel will be coincident with the movement of the shovel Which he Watches. The front end of lever P is pivoted to a T-plate, Q, whereupon it may be adjusted toward one side or the other, to cause the rear end of said y lever to project more or less toward the attendants side of the machine, as may be required for the convenient management of the shovels.

When the cultivator is being transported Vfrom place to place, or when turning at the corners, it is required to lift the shovels from the ground, and I therefore place at the rear end of the tongue a saddle, R, upon which the lever P may be rested, and the plows thereby sustained above the ground.

The plates for the shovels K L are formed between proper dies fashioned to produce the configuration described. The inner shovel L may have a portion of its inner edge cut away as shown, so that the soil will not be thrown toward the tender plants to injure them.

When the plants have attained sufcient growth to be uninjured by the falling of soil upon them, these shovels may be transposed, or others, like shovels K, may be substituted.

Among the advantages of my improvements are, adjustability of the draft-pole or tongue, strength and lightness of Wheel-frame, rigid connection of plows on opposite sides of plant row, direct draft upon plow-beams, Svc.

Having described my improvements, what I claim as new, is

1. In combination With the barA, the bar B, braces F F, and tongue D, to form a trussed Wheel, framed as set forth.

2. In a straddle-row cultivator, the plowbeams I I, constructed and combined with the Wheel-frame A B, and clevises H H, receiving their draft independent of each other and of said Wheel-frame, as set forth.

3. In combination with the slotted bar B and the plow-beam I, the adjusting-clevis H, for the purpose substantially as set forth.

4. In combination with the plow-beams I I, the adjusting-arch M M, with the spreader N, substantially as set forth.

5. In combination with the arch M, the lever P, and vsaddle R, for the purpose set forth.

' WM. l). MILLER.

Attest:

WASHINGTON WARD, JOHN H. LITTLER. 

